By Andrew Muvishi
Marondera Municipality has proposed a 143 percent increase in water tariffs for 2027, a move that has triggered an outcry among residents already battling to clear arrears.
The proposal was tabled during the municipality’s 2027 budget consultations.
Under the plan, water charges would jump from US$0.35 to US$0.85 per cubic metre.
For a household using 20 cubic metres per month, the monthly bill would rise from US$7 to US$17.
That marks an additional US$120 per year, before other municipal charges are factored in.
Residents Decry Affordability Crisis
Residents who attended the consultations said the hike would worsen financial pressure on pensioners, the unemployed and low-income households.
They warned that the increase would balloon council debt as more households default.
Some ratepayers also accused council of taking residents to court over disputed bills linked to faulty water meters.
They claim they were being charged on inflated estimates.
Council Cites Soaring Production Costs
Responding to the concerns, Council finance official Mr Masimba Muzawaka defended the proposal.
Muzawaka said it was driven by soaring water treatment and distribution costs.
He said the municipality is now operating major waterworks on prepaid electricity, which has significantly pushed up operational costs.
Muzawaka said additional revenue was critical to purchase electricity and water treatment chemicals to guarantee safe and clean water.
On disputed bills, council urged residents with faulty meters to visit municipal offices for assistance.
Ratepayers Demand Sports Levy Accountability
Meanwhile, residents demanded accountability over sports levy collections.
While council proposed to maintain the current sports and roads levies, ratepayers called for a detailed financial report showing how much has been collected under the sports levy and how it has been used.
They questioned whether the funds were being channelled towards development and maintenance of sporting infrastructure.
The proposed tariff increase is still subject to approval, with residents urging council to balance cost recovery with affordability and improved service delivery.
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